Merovingian Dynasty (c. 450-751)
- Clovis I: Founder of the Merovingian Dynasty: united the Franks under his rule
- Descendants: Maintained power in Frankish territories until succeeded by the Carolingians.
Carolingian Dynasty (751-787)
- Charles Martel: Defeated the Moors at the Battle of Tours; progenitor of the Carolingians.
- Charlemagne: Crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800, father of European monarchy
- Louis the Pious and his descendants: Divided empire, leading to France and Germany.
Capetian Dynasty (987-1328)
- Hugh Capet: Frist Capetian King of France, founder of one of the largest royal dynasties.
- Louis IX (Saint Louis): Known for his piety and crusading efforts.
- Philip IV (the Fair): Grandfather of Edward III of England, connecting the Plantagenets.
House of Normandy (Rollo and Descendants, 911-1135)
- Rollo: Viking leader who became the first Duke of Normandy.
- William the Conqueror: Descendant of Rollo; became King of England after Norman Conquest (1066).
Plantagenet Dynasty (1154-1485)
- Henry II: Married Eleanor of Aquitaine, connecting to the Capetians.
- Edward III: Progenitor of numerous royal European lines; key figure in the Hundred Years’ War.
- John of Gaunt: Father of the Lancastrian and Beaufort lines, linking to the Tudors.
Valois Dynasty (1328-1589)
- Philip VI: First Valois King of France, stemming from a cadet branch of the Capetians.
- Charles VII: Allied with Joan of Arc, father of Louis XI.
House of Medici (14th-17th Century)
- Cosimo de’ Medici: Founder of the Medici power in Florence
- Lorenzo the Magnificent: Renaissance patron, connecting to the royal families of France and Spain.
House of Orsini (11th Century-Present)
- Roman nobility: Influential in the Papacy, with intermarriages to French and Spanish royal families.
House of Gonzaga (14th Century-17th Century)
- Lords of Mantua: Connected to the Habsburgs and Bourbons through alliance and intermarriages
House of Habsburg (1273-Present)
- Maria Theresa of Spain: Married Louis XIV of France, blending Bourbon and Habsburg lines.
- Charles V: Holy Roman Emperor; ruled extensive European territories.
Bourbon Dynasty (1589-Present)
- Henry IV: Founder of the French Bourbon line; descended from Louis IX.
- Louis XIV (the Sun King): Solidified absolute monarchy in France
- Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette: Connection the the Habsburgs
House of Stuart (1371-1714)
- Mary Queen of Scots: Granddaughter of Henry VII; married into French Royalty.
- James VI/I: Unified the crowns of Scotland and England.
House of Hanover and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1714-Present)
- George I: Inherited the British throne through Protestant succession.
- Queen Victoria: “Grandmother of Europe” marrying Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
House of Windsor (1917-Present
- George V: Renamed the British royal house to Windsor during WWI.
- Queen Elizabeth II: Descendant of the Plantagenet’s, Tudors, Stuarts, and Hanoverians.